geambs



(No Model.) Q 2 SheetsSheet 1. G. H. GRAMBS.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 394,567. Patented Dec..18,- 1888.

Inn $147601.

m-nesaes.

I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G.'H. GRAMBS.

GAR OOUPLING.

(No Model.)

PTO-394,567.

Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. GRAMBS, OF DALTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 394,567, dated December 18, 1888. Applichtion filed August 2, 1888. Serial No. 281,786. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. GRAMBS, of Dalton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in car-couplings, particularly such as are adapted to couple automatically with a link presented and held by the opposite coupling-headsuch, for instance, as shown in my prior patent, No. 325,798, dated September 8, 1885the object of the invention being to render the coupling more efficient and easier to manipulate and retain in operative position; to which ends it consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective View of the improved coupling. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the same with the cover and pin locked down. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the pin raised. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the jaws and link, with the link and its connections. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the jaws at the pivotal point.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

The coupling-head or draw-head A is similar in all respects to the head shown in my prior patent, save that the walla, surrounding the opening in the top, is carried straight up on the rear side and has the openings 1), through which the locking pin B for the hinged cover 0 passes. Ledges D are formed at each side on the inside of this wall, upon which the stop e on the rotating pin-carrying block E takes its bearing when the pin is down to prevent the further rotation of said block. This rotary pin-carrying block takes its bearings at the sides of the aperture through the top of the head, preferably as well as for the sake of economy in open bearings, the upper portion of which is in the cow'er C. One of the trunnions is extended and provided with a squared end, upon which the operating handle or lever C is secured. A weight, 0 or a spring may be attached to this lever, tending to keep the pin at all times down, as will be readily understood from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2.

The pin F is connected with the block by a link, f, as in my prior patent, to permit the same to lie closely around in the groove formed in the block E when raised.

\Vit-hin the draw-head are located the pinand-link supporting-j aws G, having the spring g between their rear walls and the springs g on the outside of each, in order to hold their forward ends at all times in proper position before the bell-mouth of the draw-head, while permitting a slight movement in either direction should the link not enter perfectly straight. Behind the jaws G, and taking a bearing against both of them, is a plate, H, pressed forward by a spring, h, as in my prior patent referred to.

The jaws are formed separately and pivot upon the central projection, I, extending from the center of each, and in order that the link entering between them may not push one back against the tension of the spring, leaving the other stationary, the division line is not straight, but a depression, 2', is formed in each of the jaws and a corresponding projection, i, fitting therein, is formed on the opposite jaw, as shown in Fig. 5, a vertical divisionline being preferably located at the center, in order that the link may bear on a section of each jaw and push them back simultaneously.

Limiting-stops K, co-operati 11g with stops K I on the jaws, are formed within the draw-head to limit the movement of the jaws in each direction.

The slot formed in the jaws for the passage of the pin in my former patent is long enough to permit the pin to swing up to allow the entrance of the link, the pin then swinging down inside the link and making the coupling. In the present instance these slots L are made comparatively short and the upper one is provided with a step, Z, preferably somewhat inclined, with which a correspondinglyinclined step, Z, on the end of the pin restswhen the pin is raised in position for coupling automatically, (see Fig.- 3,) the pressure of the spring h holding the'two steps in engagement until the jaws are pressed back by the entering link, when the link is permitted to descend, assisted by the weight of the lever C. The advantage of making one or both of these steps inclined or beveled off is apparent. \Vhen made straight or inclined inward, there is a tendency to carry the pin with the sliding jaw; but when the steps are beveled off there is no such tendency, as the instant the jaw starts to move the pin will slide oft and start down to make the coupling.

The cover is locked down by the rod M passing through the openings in the wall around the aperture and through or over the end of the cover, and, when desired, the block E may be locked and the raising of the pin prevented, as follows: Anaperture, N, is made straight through the wall a from sideto side of the coupling, and through this aperture a bar, on, is passed, having a cut-away portion or notch, 91, at the center on the rear side, and through the block E is formed a small aperture, 0, so arranged as to be vertical when the pin is down, and through this aperture is passed a pin, 0, the lower end of which extends down within the notch 92 and engages the bar'm, thus preventing the rotation of the block and the withdrawal of the bar 171.. The pin 0 is retained in place by the cover, all as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is i 1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head having the central cavity and the spring-pressed link-holding jaws, of a step on the upper jaw and a corresponding step on the pin engaging therewith to hold the pin elevated, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head having the central cavity and the jaws sliding therein, of the inclined step on said jaws and a step on the pin engaging therewith to hold the pin elevated, substan-. tially as described.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head having the central cavity, of the link-holding jaws sliding therein, having the spring between their rear ends and the springs on the outside of such ends for holding the jaws in position and permitting a movement in either direction, substantially 5 as described.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head having the central cavity, of the link-holding jaws sliding therein and resting one upon the other, and having the cut-out portions and projections, as described, whereby the link engages both jaws simul-. taneously to push them back, as set forth.

5. In a car-couplin g, the combination of the draw-headhaving the central cavity with the link-holdin g jaws sliding therein, having the spring between their rear ends and the spri ngs on the outside of such ends for holding said jaws in position, one of said jaws resting against the other and having the cut-out por- 7 tions and projections, as described, whereby the link engages both jaws simultaneously to press them back, as set forth.

6. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head and the spring-pressed pin- 7 supporting jaw, of the rotary block connected to said pin, adapted to raise or lower the same, and the weighted lever connected to said block for causing its rotation in a direction to lower the pin, substantially as described.

'7. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head, of the rotary block having the pin connected thereto by the loose link and the stops for limiting the rotation of said block, substantially as described.

8. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head, of the rotary block having the u 0 eRAMBs.

\Vitnesses:

WM. G. NEUFFER, EDWARD KELL, CHAs. D. NEUFFER. 

